PR ‘behind’ troll farms facing Senate scrutiny

A senator on Sunday hinted at the possibility of inviting the Makati-based public relations (PR) firm contracted by the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines to peddle pro-China narratives on social media.

Facing a potential Senate invitation is Infinitus Marketing Solutions Inc.

The Chinese Embassy reportedly tapped the PR firm to employ “keyboard warriors” to “deliberately spread information to promote the Chinese government’s policies.”

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino revealed the summons being considered by the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, which he chairs.

“There is a chance for that. If a schedule to conduct our next hearing opens up next week,” Tolentino said.

China has been accused of trying to back candidates in the 2025 midterm elections, aside from trying to influence public opinion about the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.

Tolentino noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission failed to send a representative during his committee’s hearing last Thursday.

During the hearing, the National Security Council confirmed Beijing’s support for some candidates in the upcoming Philippine elections.

Likewise, he noticed that there’s not much information about Infinitus online after its official website and Facebook page went offline this weekend.

Asked whether Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian would be invited, Tolentino answered: “Ambassadors enjoy diplomatic immunity in their host country. We cannot summon them.”